“African American military personnel after 1968 represented a new
mentality. Only a few steps removed…”

“African American military personnel after 1968 represented a new
mentality. Only a few steps removed from the movements on the
home front, black servicemembers around the world (including some
career military personnel) became less willing to tolerate systemic
discrimination, cultural intolerance, or overt bigotry such as racial
epithets, expressions of white supremacy, and Confederate flags. African American and white military personnel grew increasingly distrustful of one another. Racism, misunderstanding, and a Department of Defense largely unprepared to address institutional inequalities left an environment primed for racial conflict.”